Hydrogen could now replace coal on trains

PROFESSOR Stuart Coles says heritage steam could be a low-carbon casualty.

Britain’s 158 coal-fired heritage steam railways are enjoyed by millions of volunteers and visitors.

He also says visitors want to see steam coming out of the chimney and around the engine.

I am a glass half-full sort of person. I believe that there is a way by which “steam trains” could remain with us for many decades.

Hydrogen could replace coal, by using hydrogen-fuel cells to power the locomotive.

The exhaust from hydrogen-fuel cells is steam - no CO2, greenhouse, or noxious gases are emitted.

For example, the boiler of the “steam trains” could be replaced by hydrogen fuel tanks.

The coal in the tender of the locomotive could be replaced by fuelcell packs (these generate electricity).

The electric traction motor (which powers the locomotive) could be fitted in the lower part/ underside of the locomotive.

Auxiliary electric power (for lighting and heating) could come from battery units fitted on the rail carriages.

Conversion of the original coalpowered locomotive to a hydrogenpowered locomotive would not be cheap.

However, the running cost would be significantly cheaper.

Alternatively, the present steam locomotives could, gradually, be decommissioned, and then put into museums, and then replaced by the modified replicates.

The replicates could be made of lighter (although strong) material than the originals – making the electric traction motor more effective.

Replicate locomotives could also be exported (possibly a nice little earner).

It is likely that building replicate locomotives would be the more economic option. Hydrogen powered locomotives would have an extended capability; they would be able to run from larger towns and cities. In fact, hydrogenpowered replicates, would be no different from, new, hydrogen powered railway trains. Brian Hayes

Bassaleg, Newport

These people are not rugby fans

I take issue with a recent newspaper headline that read: “Boozy fans led Wales great John Taylor to walk out of the stadium”.

This relates to the Welsh match against Australia and my issue is the use of the word” fans” because these are not rugby fans they are just people out for a good social in Cardiff under the umbrella of an international rugby match.

I venture to suggest that many have not seen a rugby match in their lives, and, other than the social occasion of going to the Principality Stadium, they have not a clue as to what is going on.

Many true rugby fans, and I was one, would far rather stay at home and watch the matches on television, rather than have to put up with constant vile language and anti-social behaviour, and perpetual interruptions from people going back and for the bar.

Both sexes are equally culpable. I feel it is a cultural and egotistical thing for many, to be seen at a Welsh international match.

As Max Boyce said “I know ‘cos I was there”.

They may be there but in body alone as rugby is secondary to the booze.

It is an utter disgrace that John Taylor should be so disgusted by this behaviour that he and a colleague chose to leave their seats and watch the second half on the television.

What was equally telling was the attitude of a senior Welsh member of WRU, who merely, with a wry smile, shrugged his shoulders and related that the Union make a lot of money on booze.

If that is the priority, and I have long thought it was, the game is being run by the wrong people. It will come back to bite them as the true rugby fan will not want to tolerate it indefinitely.

John Edwards Porthcawl, Bridgend

Conversion of the original coal- powered locomotive to a hydrogen-powered locomotive would not be cheap.However, the running cost would be significantly cheaper

Brian Hayes

Cancer centre work must be paused

THERE are many serious, ignored problems with the proposed new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) in Cardiff.

The clearance works and tree felling taking place at Forest Farm Nature Reserve and the Northern Meadows must be paused until these problems are openly and fully addressed by the Welsh Government.

■ Flooding. Velindre still have not produced plans for how they will manage the increase in flooding risk as a result of building the nVCC.

This is despite houses just below the Meadows being in the highest risk category for flooding from rivers, watercourses and surface water.

■ Access Roads. Velindre’s plans for the access roads into the nVCC site keep changing.

The Hollybush estate emergency access route is now not likely to be built, but a southern access route said to be used for just nine months in initial planning permission - may now be used as a permanent access to the site.

How can there be this much uncertainty about key features of this proposed medical facility while at the same time clearing protected habitat and felling our trees?

■ Construction Drawings. Velindre have still not produced the construction drawings for the nVCC building.

Again how can clearance and tree felling go ahead when then these very basics of any new construction are not available for scrutiny?

■ 60/40 use of land. Local politicians have made much of the stated commitment by Velindre that 60% of the Northern Meadows would be left untouched by the nVCC.

However Velindre have recently altered this commitment, they are now making reference to just an ‘ambition’, and have stated the design will allow ‘flexibility for expansion’ (Velindre Matters, 26.11.21), casting doubt on whether any of the meadows will be available for the community in the future.

The small print: Letters will not be included unless you include your name, full postal address and daytime telephone number (we prefer to use names of letter writers but you can ask for your name not to be published if you have a good reason). The Editor reserves the right to edit all letters.

Clinical Opposition. Increasing numbers of NHS clinical staff are making known their opposition to Velindre’s “stand-alone” model of care for the nVCC.

The majority of clinicians believe the nVCC should be colocated with an existing acute hospital.

It should not be possible to persistently ignore so many doctors, nurses, pharmacists etc, and a truly independent external clinical review of this stand-alone model of care must be undertaken.

Politicians who are responsible for the funding of this Welsh Government project, particularly Julie Morgan MS, Eluned Morgan MS, and Vaughan Gething MS, must pause the clearance and tree felling until all these problems have been resolved.

In addition, Cllr Huw Thomas as Leader of Cardiff Council, must call for a pause to the felling of trees on Forest Farm Nature Reserve.

This tree felling is scheduled for

January/February 2022.

Cardiff Council as owners of Forest Farm should be protecting these trees, especially given the Nature Emergency declared by Cardiff Council on November 25 2021. Penny Owen

Heath, Cardiff